New taskforce launched to boost safe, skilled jobs abroad
By: Rebecca Okine
Ghana has established a National Planning Committee for the Ghana Labor Exchange Program (GLEP) as part of its efforts to become a leader in ethical labor export.
The committee was formally inaugurated by the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, at a ceremony held in Accra.
The event, held under the theme “Designing Ghana’s Global Workforce Strategy,” brought together key stakeholders from government, foreign missions, labor agencies, development partners, and civil society.
Dr. Pelpuo called on the newly sworn-in committee members to act with urgency and purpose in fulfilling their mandate.
“This initiative aligns with Ghana’s ambition to participate meaningfully in the global workforce. Our youth must be given structured and dignified opportunities to contribute their skills abroad while gaining experience that will benefit the country upon their return,” he said.
The Ghana Labor Exchange Program is part of a wider labor diplomacy agenda aimed at creating well-regulated pathways for Ghanaians to work abroad. The committee is expected to design a comprehensive framework that ensures the professional, safe, and mutually beneficial deployment of Ghanaian workers to international labor markets.
Key focus areas include establishing bilateral labor agreements, aligning local skills with global demands, and creating reintegration plans for returning workers.
Institutional support structures and protections for overseas workers will also form a central part of the committee’s strategy.
